Home sweet home! We arrived home Saturday December 3rd at 7:30pm. The trip home was very long of course and Nicholas had his moments! But we are home safe and very happy to be home! Jessica and Caitlin met us at the airport and it was a very happy reunion! Nickolas seems to like his new sisters, brother and new home. We were concerned that he would be affraid of the dogs but as you can tell he LOVES them, especially Brutus! Nicholas' adjustment continues to go very well, there are times I think he misses his foster family but that is to be expected. We feel so fortunate to again be so blessed with this sweet boy and thank God for bringing us together. Thanks to all who followed our travels, sent encouragement and prayed for our safe, healthy travel.

We ask that life be kind

We pray you'll be our eyes and watch us where we go

And help us to be wise when we don't know

Just like every child needs to find a place

Lead us to a place, guide us with Your Grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

Merry Christmas!!

We are almost done with the paperwork! Tomorrow, Friday, we go to the US Consulate to take an oath and recieve Nicholas' Visa to go home. The White Swan is beautiful and has been a good way to finish the trip. The girls went swimming today it was pleasant and about 75 degrees but the outdoor pool was cold! It won't be long now-ready for our trip home!

We arrived in Guangzhou yesterday. Our trip from Beijing to Guangzhou was difficult to say the least!! We boarded the plane nearly an hour late and then sat, not moving for more that an hour. The plane was HOT and Nick was miserable and crying, Audrey was fussing and I was praying to get to Guangzhou!!! Meili was my only saving grace-she took a nap! As time drug on we passed lunch time and then dinner time by the time we arrived in Guangzhou the kids were tired, hungry and all wanted to be carried -I have improved muscle tone in my upper body-Nick weighs 30 lbs and Meili weighs 26lbs. I am certain at this point I could run a marathon-no problem! I can't wait to get home!

Swimming has been one of the girls favorite things to do at the hotel. The first time we visited the pool we found out that they required bathing caps. Audrey thought that wearing a hat in the pool was very funny! Nicholas was very unsure about the pool the first time but today enjoyed his swim very much-despite the bathing cap! The TianLun Dynasty Hotel is beautiful and they started decorating for Christmas today-made it feel alittle more like home! The adoption paperwork is complete, we received Nicholas' passport today at the police station. Tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou, the final part of the trip! We will apply for Nicholas' Visa to enter the US and he will get a physical at the US Embassy in Guangzhou. We are looking forward to Guangzhou-it is familiar territory and there are many families like ours around-well maybe not three children from China but you know what I mean! We have enjoyed Beijing but are ready to be done and go home!

Today is Audrey's 4th Birthday! Our guide Mariane brought her a birthday cake and hat and she enjoyed both very much! She is growing up so fast and everyday she amazes me with her sheer joy and enthusiasm for life! I always think of her birthmother on this day and hope that she has found peace and wish she could know how loved and special Audrey is and I am thankful that we are so fortunate to be her forever family.

I got my first kiss from Nicholas and a very sweet "Mama"! I think he is a Mama's boy already! Tomorrow is our last whole day in Beijing. I think time will go quickly in Guangzhou and before we know it we will be headed HOME!

It is Sunday morning and we are going shopping and to Pizza Hut for lunch. Our guide suggested going to the zoo on Monday. We are very tired of living out of a hotel room and so are the kids! As you can see the portable crib is now a jungle gym for lack of anything better to do! Nicholas loves to drop anything he can get his hands on in the toilet and keeping the door shut doesn't compute with the girls. Nicholas is potty trained for the most part, I just have to understand when he asks to go! Well we off to the deptment store where we get lots of strange looks-getting tired of that too!

We went to visit Tian' anmen Square and the Forbidden City. Sightseeing with three children is often a little difficult! The very persistent street vendors also take away from the pleasure of seeing the historic sights. Tian' anmen Square was built in the 1400's-things that old are hard to even imagine. Our guide Mariane is wonderful and very knowledgeable about the history of China. The kids are doing great and having a good time. Feeding the girls is becoming a challenge, they are tired of Chinese food and the pizza here isn't like at home! We are resting today,taking swim in the hotel pool and going to the grocery. We will be going to the Beijing Zoo tomorrow.